Cuff button



Mrh 3l. 1925. 1,531,757

, E. l. ROGERS, JR

CUF'F BUTTON Filed Feb. 2o'l 1924 illllllliiiillllilililliilillliiiiii! lll {(ff' Maggi/isis.

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Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES'.

EVERETT IRVING ROGERS, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CUFF BUTTON.

Appiioation inea February ao, 1924. seriaiN. 693,992.

To @ZZ whom t may concer/1..' l

Be it known that I, Evnimrr IRVING Boones, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Cuff Buttons, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to cuff buttons, and more particularly to cuff buttons of the separable, self-retaining type, wherein there is employed a pair of independent button members adapted to be retained one in each buttonhole of the cuff and having means for connecting or disconnecting the same at will.

The object of the invention is to provide a cuff button in which the separable members may be positively locked together when in position in the cuff, but are capable of separation at will by a simple manual operation, the locking device being such that a button with thin flanges and of pleasing appearance may be produced, while at the same time the locking parts are capable of withstanding all ordinary strains and both members of the button capable of withstanding severe usage without impairment .of their functions.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope' will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional elevation showing the v,two members comprising the cuff button connected together, the drawing being on an enlarged scale and some of the smaller parts being shown of exaggerated thickness for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the resilient retainers; i

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. f1 is a plan view of the complemental resilient retainer;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation l.of the same;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the stud member of the cuff button shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 8 is an end view, partly in section, showing the socket Amember parts; .and

side of the respective cuffl edges when the button is in use.

Referring first more particularly to the stud member, 'the head forthe latter is rigidly secured to the shank 15 which,iil desired, may be formed integrally therewith, the shank being in the form of a tubularmeinber terminating at its opposite-end `in the flared plate 17. The latter constitutes the rear wall vof the flange for the stud member, the front wall thereof being formedby theJ plate 19, the peripheral edges 21 of which are joined to the plate 17 by being rolled over the edges thereof. .The plate 19 `has formed integral therewith a centrally' projecting studr rhaving the enlarged head l23 and the necked or shouldered portion To bring the thickness of theflange .on the stud member to approximate that of the flangeI on the socket member, the plate 27 may be employed to serve ,as a filler if de? sired, or the ,same may be omitted. Y -The p arts being made of sheet metal, the flange andthe parts thereof willbe relatively thin and of al lesser thickness than represented in the drawings, where they are shown on aneXag-gerated scale forthe` sake of clearness.v

Referring now to the socket member, the head thereof is provided with a sha-nk 29 similar to the shank 15 and terminating in a substantially fiat, flared plate .31, which plate forms the rear wall of the socket member Harige. The front vwall (see Fig. 9) is formed by a substantiallyflat plate 33 which is centrally apertured at..35thev edge of the aperture being turned inwardly to assist in centering the head .of the stud 23 when the latter vis inserted therein. lVhen the parts are in position, the outer ,wall 3.3 of the socket member flange is in `firm Vabutting Contact against the substantially flat outer wall 19 of the .stud .member` flange.

`The outer edges of the socket flange plate 33 are bent :back to form side walls 37 for the socket chamber and the edges rolled over and back of the edges of the inner plate 31 to unite the two plates into a single structure, the inner plate 31, however, seating against a circumferential shoulder within the side walls 37 so as to be spaced from the outer plate 33 and to leave between the two and around the aperture 35 a thin annular space or chamber.

Within the socket-flange Chamber positive locking means are provided comprising thin, sheet-metal, aperture-forming plates 39 and 41, which herein are formed in two separate complemental pieces adapted to slide one over the other and provide a restricted aperture 43 (see Fig. 8) within which the neck of the stud is adapted to fit snugly so as normally to prevent its withdrawal due to the shouldered head (see Fig. 1). l

The plate 39 has a stud-receiving opening 45 (see Fig. 2), the latter having a curved wall 47 to engage the neck of the stud. The plate 41 has a similar but reversely arranged stud-receiving opening 49, with a similar curved wall 51 to engage the opposite side of the neck of the stud, the two plates 39 and 41 when assembled being reversely arranged so that the stud-engaging portions of the opening 47 and 51 are oppositely disposed.

At the opposite side of the aperture 45 the plate 39 is connected by the arms 53 and 55 with the neck 57 which is prolonged into a releasing projection 59 adapted to extend through a slot in the walls of the socket flange and project laterally therefrom when the parts are assembled. The tip of the releasing projection may be provided with an enlargement 61 to permit it to be moi'e readily engaged by the fingers for purposes of manipulation.

Connected to the releasing projection 59 is a pair 0f curved, resilient arms 63 which, when the parts are assembled in the flange, are confined within the side walls 37 of the flange chamber and tend to urge the locking plate into engagement with the stud if the latter' is inserted, or if the stud is absent to draw the locking plates toward each other into the position shown in Fig. 8, reducing the size of the aperture.

The locking plate 41 is constructed similarly to the plate 39 with respect to the parts 53, and 57, and is provided with a similar releasing projection 59 with an enlargement 61 and similar curved, resilient arms 63. The two parts, in fact, may be struck from the same die, but, additionally, the plate 39 has its aperture forming wall 47 raised slightly so that when placed in overlying and reverse relation to the plate 41 the raised portion projects into the aperture 49 of the plate 41 and lies at substantially the same level as the stud-engaging walls 51 in the plate 41.

In constructing the socket member, the two locking plates are assembled as shown in the drawings and placed in the socket-flange chamber. The shank 29 and the late 33 are then assembled and the edges of the latter rolled over the edges of the flared plate 31. The two locking plates when assembled need have only a sliding fit within the space so that the depth of the chamber and the overall thickness of the flange itself may be very slight; This provides a very thin socket flange and a button very attractive in appearance.

Then the parts are assembled the two sets of curved, resilient arms 63 engage the side walls of the flange chamber and tend to draw the opposite stud engaging walls 47 and 51 together, reducing the aperture 43 to a size incapable of passing the enlarged head of the stud. The releasing projections are thus forced outwardly by the resilient arms and project laterally beyond the edges of the socket flange. lf the stud is now inserted in the socket member the convex head of the stud forces the two plates apart against the resiliency of the spring arms, enlarging the aperture and permitting the entrance of the stud head, the plates snapping back against the neck of the stud and positively locking the same against withdrawal. By merely pressing the projecting members 59 together, however', the plates may be sep arated at will and the aperture 43 enlarged sufficiently to permit the withdrawal of the stud.

Then the button is inserted in the cuff and the two parts fastened together, the user may readily insert the thumb and finger between the two sides of the cuff and by pressing them together against the releasing projections effect the release of the stud, the stud automatically withdrawing from the socket, due to the strain which is put on the fabric of the cuffl under1 pressure of the thumb and linger. This not only provides a simple but very convenient method of releasing the positive locking device but an efficient and durable lock.

Because of the construction employed, the stud can be made short and inconspicuous which adds to the attractive appearance of the button, and at the same time rigid and solid and capable of withstanding considerable rough usage without affecting its function. The two flanges are brought into close abutting relation which not only adds to the thin and attractive appearance of the assembled llanges, but also prevents rocking or upsetting forces which might tend to break the stud loose from its fastening when seated in its socket. The thin locking plates working in the flange of the socket member not only permit the desired thinness of the flange, but provide for engagement of the locking device with the stud relatively close to the base of the latter and close to the mouth of the flange socket which adds to the firmness with llO which the separable parts are held when attached.

While I have herein shown for the purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that extensive deviations may be made therefrom and ivide changes in the form or relative arrangement of parts, all Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims:

l. A cuff1 button having separable members, comprising a stud member having a head and flange separated by an intermediate shank and a rigid stud with a shouldered head projecting` centrally from the flange, a socket member having also a head and flange with intermediate shank, the flange presenting a central aperture to receive the stud from the first member, means for positively locking the stud when inserted in the aperture thereby bringing 'he tiro flanges into close abutting relation, said means comprising thin sheet metal locking plates one overlying the other and held. between opposite faces of the flange, each having a plurality of resilient arms engaging the interior sides of the flange and adapted normally to draw said plates together to present an aperture of lesser diameter than that of the stud head but yieldable to permit the separation o1' the plates to increase the size of the aperture and permit the passage therethrough of the stud head, and means for manually releasing the stud comprising releasing members projecting laterally from the flange by which the stud locking plates may be forced apart.

2. A cuff button having separable stud and socket members, comprising each a head and flange with intermediate shank, the flange for the socket member having an inner Wall and a centrally apertured outer vvall separated from the inner Wall to 'leave an am'mlar chamber bet-Ween the same, de.- viees located Within the chamber for posi tively locking the stud when inserted in the aperture of the flange, the same comprising complemental overlying flat plates presenting 'a relatively small stud-receiving aperture, said plates being each prolonged on the opposite side of its aperture-forming walls into a releasing projection adapted to extend laterally beyond the edge of the flange and said plates having each a pair of curved resilient arms extending from said prolongation to engage with the sides of the annular flange cham er and draw the plates together but permitting the separation of the same either by insertion of' the stud or actuation of the releasing projections to cause enlargement of the aperture.

3. A cuff button having separable stud and socket members, comprising each a head and flange. with intermediate shank, the flange of' the socket member having a chamber with positive locking means therein comprising complemental aperture-forming plates and a pair of connected resilient means on each plate engaging the Walls of the chamber on opposite sides of the plates normally moving the plates to reduce the size of the aperture, and connected releasing projections projecting beyond the edges of the flange to move the plates to increase the size of the aperture.

et. A cuff' button having separable stud and socket members, comprising each a head and flange with intermediate shank, the flange of the socket member having a chamber with positive locking means therein comprising sheet-metal, aperture-forming members each having tivo resilient sheet metal connections engaging the Walls of the chamber and acting to move the members to a position, Where they are adapted to hold the stud positively locked, and radially movable releasing' projections secured to said members and extending through the Walls of the flange.

5. A cuff button having separable stud and socket members, comprising each a head and flange with intermediate shank, the flange of the socket member having a cham" ber with positive locking means therein including' an aperture-forming plate formed of sheet metal having connected thereto curved resilient armsl engaging the opposite sides of the flange chamber, and a releasing projection extending througlr the Walls thereof' connected to the said arms.

6. A cuffl button having' separable stud and socket members, comprising each a head and flange with intermediate shank, the flange of the socket member having a chamber with positive locking means therein comprising a pair of complemental aperture-forming plates in sliding contact, each plate having a releasing projection eX tending through the Walls of the flange, a pair of resilient arms connected to the projections and engaging the Walls of the flange, each plate having a stud-receiving aperture- With ivalls oppositely arranged in the two plates formed to engage the neck of the stud, the stud engaging Walls in one plate being raised to lie in substantially the same plane as the stud-engaging Walls in the other plate.

In testimony whereof l have signedmy name to this specification.

E. RVING ROGERS` Je. 

